52 ON FATTENING CATTLE AND SWINE. 



ON FATTENING CATTLE AND SWINE. 



There has been no application for premium, the present year, for 

 fattening cattle or swine. In the County of Essex, there is but 

 little stock raised and fattened expressly for the butcher, as it is not 

 considered profitable. Considerable stock must necessarily be fat- 

 tened ; old cattle must be turned off and young ones take their 

 places. Some farmers have made it profitable by purchasing cattle 

 in the spring, putting them into a good pasture, and selling them to 

 the butcher in the latter part of summer, or early in autumn, before 

 the droves come in from the country, as they then command a high- 

 er price than later in the season. But this cannot be done success- 

 fully, unless the pastures are very good, which is not generally the 

 case. Cattle should always be kept in good flesh for several reasons. 

 Cows will give more milk, and of better quality. Oxen will perform 

 more labor. Should a leg be broken, or some other accident hap- 

 pen, they will not be a total loss. Or, should beef be unusually 

 high, they can easily be prepared for the butcher. Besides, it is 

 much pleasanter seeing the stalls filled with fat, smooth cattle, than 

 those like Pharaoh's lean kine. And that cattle may be kept in 

 good flesh, pastures should not be overstocked, and when the feed 

 grows short, as it usuallv does in the latter part of summer and au- 

 tumn, they should be fed on green corn or something else raised for 

 the purpose. 



Much attention should be paid to feeding cattle in the winter. 

 They should also be well watered and kept warm. It is better to 

 keep them in the barn for the most part of the time, in extreme cold 

 weather, than to leave them out shivering behind the fence. 



If they are designed for beef in the spring, and are as fleshy in 

 the fall as they should be, by giving them a few roots or a little meal, 

 with good hay and careful attention, they can be made good beef. 

 A few years ago, I commenced raising ruta baga and beets for fatten- 

 ing cattle. I had good success, and considered them a profitable 

 crop. Soon, however, they began to depreciate ; the ruta baga 

 rotted in the field ; now I consider them an uncertain crop and have 

 discontinued to cultivate them. I am also of the opinion that the 

 profit of fattening cattle in winter is rather small, especially to those 

 farmers who have a market near for their hay. 



In regard to fattening swine, as the potato crop has failed, I know 

 of nothing better than corn meal ; although apples, roots and vegeta- 



